A/N- Long time since I worked on this fic! (well, not really, but it feels that way to me anyway) As you can tell- this is moving a lot slower than the original, and that was the plan! At this point in time, the second part of the first PS chapter hasn't even happened yet!

Anyway, huge shout out to the bestest beta's ever! Cheesy, Accio, and Be11a! They are wondermous!

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The tapping of the pail against the window roused Ron from a heavy sleep. Last night, he had been up late playing a new video game, and had hoped to sleep in on his birthday.

His birthday.

That's right, he was sixteen now. He smiled to himself at the thought, pulling the covers higher up around him. He turned his body, wanting to fall back asleep, but before he could, the pail sounded again. With a huff, he opened his eyes, squinting in the bright room.

"Bloody hell," he mumbled as he rolled out of bed, letting out a loud yawn and taking his sweet time stretching out his stiff muscles as he stood up.

Finally making his way over to the window, he opened it to see Hermione's face smiling across at him. As irritated as he was at being woken up, the sight of her smiling at him made him feel better, and he couldn't help but smile back. Hermione was always awake way before he was, and no matter how annoyingly chipper she was first thing in the morning, seeing her always brightened his mood.

Still half asleep, he stood there and stared at her until she gave him an impatient look. Chuckling, he realized that she was waiting for him to see what she had sent him in the pail, and when he looked, he saw a piece of paper along with a small wrapped box inside. Grinning, he picked both of them up, opening the piece of paper first.

Happy Birthday, BFF! I hope it's the best yet! Maybe being sixteen will bring forth just a smidge of maturity. Let's hope so for all of our sakes ;)

Ron laughed. "Not a chance!" he yelled at her.

"Open it!" she yelled back at him, her hands gesturing wildly for him to get on with it.

With a smile, he started to tear the orange wrapping paper from the box. Once unwrapped, he opened it to find a gift card to his favorite sports shop at the shopping centre, along with a cassette tape of his favorite band. There was also a small slip of paper promising that she would help him clean his room at any desired time.

Thanks, Hermione! I love it. You're the best. Even though you woke me up.

You're welcome! Ronald, it's nearly ten! Besides, it's not as if you haven't woken me up before!

That's what's best about having a birthday on the weekend, Hermione - you get to sleep in! And...well, you can't say anything negative to me today! It's my birthday!

Whatever you say. When are we leaving?

After I eat, I guess. I'm starving.

Of course you are. Be over in a few.

With a smile, Ron closed the window and turned around, looking for some clean clothes to wear. After he ate breakfast, his mum was going to drive him and Hermione up to the shopping centre so that they could spend the day together. He figured that they could just walk around and window shop, and maybe they would even go see a movie at some point as well. It would be simple but fun. Ron always had a good time with Hermione, and would gladly choose her company over anybody else's.

Ron had never told her, but befriending Hermione Granger had changed his entire life. Winning her friendship had taken some time, but once he had done it, it had given him a confidence that he never knew existed. For the first time ever, Ron had his own friend, one who preferred him over all of his siblings, one that he could make laugh, and one who could make him laugh as well. Sure, she was a bit bossy at times, and she was about a thousand times smarter than he was, but he cared for her more than anything.

Even though she was homeschooled and didn't go to school with him, he found that being friends with her made it easier for him to make friends there as well, and with his humorous and friendly demeanor, he also grew to be quite popular. Although he had a lot of friends, not a single one of them came even close to being as special to him as Hermione was, and that had never changed.

He picked up the tape and studied it. He briefly wondered if his mum would let them listen to it on the way to the shops, but figured that she would probably chuck it out the window once she heard the language on it, so he dismissed the idea. Without warning, his door was thrown open, and his twin brothers walked in, wicked smiles on both of their faces.

"Ickle!" Fred cried as he pulled Ron into a hug that was not reciprocated.

"Fred. Our boy is growing up!" George said as he also grabbed onto Ron and hugged him while Ron struggled to break free.

"He sure is George," Fred went on with the tone of an adoring parent. "He's practically a man now. He shaves and everything!"

"Gerroff!" Ron yelled right before he managed to escape their clutches.

The twins started chuckling knowing that they had succeeded in driving Ron insane.

"What are your birthday plans, Ronniekins?" asked George.

"Me and Hermione are going to the shops for the day," he answered, and immediately regretted telling them when they exchanged a sly look with each other.

"Maybe Granger will get you something...extra special this year," Fred said, drawling the words out, and Ron felt the familiar indignation in him come up.

"She got me this," Ron responded, showing the gift card and tape to his brothers, hoping they would just get out of his room and leave him alone.

"Nice!" George said."Maybe that's only the first part of her gift - if you know what I mean."

Ron let out an irritated groan. "Not this again! Hermione is my best friend! She's like my-" he stopped. He had started to say 'sister', but that certainly didn't feel right. "I don't see her like that," he muttered instead, turning to rummage through his basket of clean clothes.

"Are you sure about that?" Fred asked.

"Because we both agree that-"

"Yes," Ron interrupted, tired of their antics. "Now, leave me alone so I can bloody get dressed!"

"He's oblivious, George. He has no idea." Fred said in a sympathetic tone.

"Poor Ickle. Maybe one day he will see the light and realize that he has a thing for his BFF."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Just because Hermione is a girl doesn't mean that I'm in love with her!"

The twins shared another look, mild surprise on their faces. "Nobody said anything about love, Ronniekins! We were just talking about you being attracted to her."

Ron felt his face redden. "Well, I'm not - I'm not either of those things!"

"So, you don't find Hermione attractive?" George asked as he studied Ron's face.

"Well, I mean - yeah, she's pretty - of course she is - but she -"

"Yes, she sure is," Fred cut in. "Say Ronnie, if you are sure that you don't like her like that, can I ask her out on a proper date? I know of a great restaurant that I can take her to! I can put on my charms, and maybe she will fall head over heels for the handsomest Weasley - since you don't want her. I mean."

Ron felt his fists involuntarily tighten at his sides, the unwelcome image of Fred and Hermione having a romantic candlelit dinner entering his mind and making him feel sick.

"Sure," he managed to utter between clenched teeth. Even though he was absolutely not okay with Fred asking Hermione out, he knew they would relentlessly tease him if he objected, so he tried his best to look like the idea didn't bother him at all.

"Wicked!" Fred said, grinning.

The mischievous look on his face caused Ron's patience to finally snap, and he opened his mouth to call him a tosser, but was interrupted by Hermione walking into his room behind the twins. Her hair was pulled into a braid, and she was wearing dark jeans and a light blue top. Like it usually did, her presence calmed Ron, and he let out a breath and gave her a small smile.

"Why aren't you dressed yet?" she asked as she eyed him still standing there in his pyjamas.

Before Ron could answer, though, Fred was spinning around to face her. "Hermione! Just the girl I wanted to see!" he said.

The sick feeling in Ron's stomach returned, knowing what was about to happen. He watched as Hermione eyed Fred with a wary look. She was no stranger to the twins and their teasing, and Ron knew that she trusted them just about as much as he did.

"Why did you want to see me?" she asked, seemingly not excited to know the answer.

Fred grinned even wider. "Well, I was just wondering if I could take you out sometime. You know, on a date." He crossed his arms in front of him, giving Hermione a charming smile.

Ron held his breath as he waited for her to answer, desperately hoping that she would tell him to bug off. Hermione looked taken back for a second, but then she reached her hand out and took one of Fred's. Ron's heart sank. Fred's eyes widened in surprise as Hermione leaned forward just a bit, giving him a smile of her own.

"Fred….no," she stated.

George started howling with laughter, and Ron let out a breath of relief, followed by a chuckle at her wit.

Fred looked a bit offended. "Playing hard to get then Hermione?" he pressed.

"Not at all Fred, I am just not interested in you like that, and honestly, I don't think that you are interested in me like that either."

"Well - If you won't go on a date with Fred, what about going on a date with Ickleronniekins here?" George asked her as he slung an arm around Ron, who immediately threw it back off his shoulders.

Hermione let out an irritated sigh. She stepped around them and started straightening the messy stack of papers on Ron's small desk.

"I don't know why you two always tease us," she said airily. "We have both told you a million times." Finishing her task, she turned around to face them. "Boys and girls are perfectly capable of having a close, platonic relationship. Isn't that right, Ronald?" Her eyes turned to Ron at the same time the twins did.

Ron smiled as he gave a sharp nod. "You're absolutely right, Hermione," he agreed, walking towards her and wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.

Both Fred and George let out a loud groan.

"Blind! Both of them!" George grumbled as Fred nodded before they finally walked away.

Once they were gone, he didn't let her go. "Thanks," he mumbled into her hair before she finally stepped back with a smile.

"Of course. So, you like your present then?"

"No. I love my present. You're the best, Hermione. Really."

She smiled before turning around. "Get dressed, and I'll meet you downstairs."

A few minutes later, Ron was running down the stairs, wanting to get his birthday pancakes that he was sure would be waiting for him. When he was about halfway down, the smell hit him, and his stomach gave a loud grumble. He skidded into the kitchen, smiling at the sight of a plate piled high with pancakes set in front of Hermione. He scooted in next to her, their thighs touching and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Why are you eating my birthday pancakes?"

She grimaced as she pushed the plate towards him.

"Your mum insisted," she whispered back, and he laughed knowingly.

After he finished both Hermione's plate and the plate that his mum placed in front of him, the three walked outside and climbed into the minivan, Ron and Hermione sat next to each other as Mrs. Weasley drove them to the shops. The centre wasn't far, and when Mrs. Weasley pulled up at the front entrance to drop them off, Ron took Hermione's hand to help her out of the van, but didn't let go once out. Despite the fact that there were no romantic feelings between the two of them, they had always been very affectionate with each other.

Ron could see how their attachment could give others the wrong idea about their relationship, especially as they got older, but it had never crossed his mind to be less affectionate with her, and she had never shown any hesitancy about physical touch from him either. It was just how they were, how they had always been, and Ron liked it that way. After all, what was wrong with holding hands, hugging, or a few chaste forehead/cheek kisses between best friends?

As they walked, they spoke of the different stores that they passed by, and Ron felt light and happy. He was just starting to daydream, internally wondering what he would buy with his gift card, when Hermione leaned closer to him.

"That girl is staring at you," she whispered. "The brunette up there on the left."

Ron looked ahead and saw that there was indeed a girl staring at him, but when he caught her eye, she turned her head away. He recognized her from school, as well as a few parties he'd been to, but he didn't know her name, nor had he ever spoken to her.

He shrugged. "Yeah, she goes to my school, and I've seen her at a few parties. Don't know her though."

"She's interested in you," Hermione said in a curious voice. "You should have seen the angry look she gave me."

Ron frowned. "Well, for one, I'm sure that she's not interested in me." He chuckled. "And even if she was, I'm not interested in her. Even if it's just for the fact that she dared to give my best friend a dirty look."

He looked over at Hermione and gave her a grin. She smiled back at him, but he could tell something was bothering her. Sighing, he walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, pulling her to sit next to him.

"Hermione. What's wrong?" he asked.

She was chewing her lip as if deep in thought, and he stared at her, giving her time to formulate her answer.

"It's just that - well - we're getting older-"

"Really?" he cut her off, pretending to be shocked. "I wasn't quite sure why my body was growing at such an alarming rate or why these birthdays kept on happening!" he said sarcastically as she glared at him.

He laughed. "Fine! Go on, Hermione, I won't interrupt again."

She sighed. "I just mean that as we get older, we are going to meet people, people who we may get into relationships with."

"Hmm," he hummed. "And the point you are trying to make is..?"

She made an exasperated noise. "When that happens, I doubt that a potential significant other will like the relationship that you and I share."

He must have pulled a face because she hurried to clarify. "You and I both know that what we have between us is innocent, Ron, but other people don't seem to get it do they? Just look at the way that the twins talk to us! While we may both be happy with the way that we are, when there is, say, a girlfriend or a boyfriend involved, I don't see them being okay with me and you being so...affectionate with each other."

Ron stared hard at the ground in contemplation. He personally couldn't see himself getting a girlfriend, especially if said girlfriend would not want him to be friends with Hermione. "Well," he finally said. "I really don't see me getting a girlfriend, but if I did, and she didn't understand that Hermione Granger was the number one girl in my life, it wouldn't work out between us anyway."

Hermione moaned. "First off, Ronald, you will never get a girlfriend if you say stuff like that!"

He shrugged. "Then I don't want one. At least for now. I mean, I already have to deal with your barmy arse! I can't imagine having to deal with anyone on top of that."

He had said that thinking she would smile, but her face was serious. "One day, Ron," she said quietly. "You're going to actually fall for someone, and then everything between us is going to change."

He made a face as if the idea was preposterous. "Well, I doubt it, Hermione. I'm not exactly Prince Charming or anything." She didn't respond, so he kept on. "So what if you meet a dashing guy and get swept off your feet? Will you just leave me in the dust?"

She looked up at him, her face alarmed. "No, Ron! I would never do-"

He chuckled, cutting her off by putting his finger over her lips. "Listen, Hermione. You are thinking about things that, at this point in time, are not even problems yet! These 'people,'" he used air quotes with his fingers, "aren't even in our lives yet! But, when they are, we will deal with it then, okay?"

She nodded, giving him a small smile. "Furthermore," he continued, "It's my birthday, and I don't want to talk about depressing things like change or growing up. Only happy talk on my birthday, understood?"

She laughed and nodded before he pulled her into a hug. "As far as I'm concerned, you will be my best friend for the rest of my life - no matter what prat wants to shag you."

She pushed him back roughly. "Don't be crude, Ronald!"

"I can be whatever I want on my birthday," he laughed, earning him a scoff.

They stood up and made their way to Ron's favorite store, where he used almost the entirety of his gift card. After that, they walked around for a bit until Hermione wanted to try on a few tops from her favorite clothing store. Even though Ron wasn't too keen on the idea of shopping for clothes, he agreed because he wanted to make her happy. They wandered around as she looked through the clothing racks, making small talk as she picked out a few things to try on. Once Hermione went into the dressing rooms, Ron found a bench nearby and sat down.

He was bored and twiddling his thumbs when he saw someone approaching him from the corner of his eye. When he looked up, he recognized Oliver Wood, a boy who went to his school but was a couple years older. Ron didn't know him very well, but he had always seemed friendly enough, and as he continued to make his way over, Ron wondered what he wanted.

"Weasley," Oliver said when he got within speaking distance. "I thought that was you."

"Wood," Ron replied. "How's it going?"

The boy shrugged. "Just walking around." He then tilted his head towards the dressing room that Hermione had disappeared into several minutes earlier. "Who's the bird with you?"

Ron felt his body tense up, feeling extremely uneasy. "Uh, that's my best friend Hermione," he said slowly, not liking where this conversation was heading.

"Best friend, huh? She single?" he asked as he again looked towards the dressing room doors.

Ron frowned as his neck started to feel hot. "No, she's not," he lied , surprised by the intensity of his words and how fast they had come out of his mouth. "She has a boyfriend. A pretty serious one, actually," he added.

Ron saw Oliver's face fall in disappointment before giving Ron a questioning look. "And this boyfriend of hers, he's cool with you being out with her alone like this?"

Ron's face grew red, and he wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger. "Her boyfriend doesn't own her," he snapped, now feeling extremely agitated. "She's been my best friend for years, and just because she has a boyfriend, it doesn't mean that she just automatically stops being my friend." he seethed.

Wood recoiled a bit. "Alright, alright. I'm glad that you can still be her friend, mate." He gave Ron a look that suggested he thought that Ron was off his rocker. "Nice chatting Weasley, I've gotta go. See you around school?" he asked, already stepping away.

"Yeah," Ron muttered. "See you."

When Wood was out of sight, Ron sat back, willing himself to relax. He wondered why he had felt so strongly about Hermione not going out with Oliver, and he reckoned it was because, as her best friend, he was protective of her. After all, he didn't know the bloke well enough to trust him.

Ron had always valued Hermione over anyone else, and if there was any chance that she was going to get hurt, he was not going to allow it to happen. He knew that he wouldn't always be around whenever someone was interested in her, but he'd do whatever he could. For a moment, he did feel a bit guilty at the thought that he might have just prevented Hermione from meeting someone that she could have potentially gotten on well with, but the guilt vanished quickly when he realized that Wood could have also been a horrible boyfriend and broken her heart.

Just then, Hermione stepped out of the dressing room, and together they made their way to the cinema near the shopping centre, where he and Hermione watched a comedy movie, sharing a large popcorn and a sprite. When it was over, they walked back to the mall entrance where Mrs. Weasley was parked outside, waiting for them. In the van, Hermione told his mum about their day, but Ron was only half-listening. He couldn't stop thinking about his earlier conversation with Hermione, or Oliver Wood's interest in her. He didn't believe that he was particularly upset, but he was starting to think of things that he hadn't ever thought of before.

His mum cooked a big dinner in his honor, and Hermione joined. For the first time, Ron noticed how Hermione blended so flawlessly with his family, and it warmed his heart to know that she was special to more than just him. After dinner and a few chess matches between him and Hermione, from which he had emerged victorious, he walked her next door and gave her one last hug on her porch before returning home.

Instead of retiring to his room for the night, he headed to the shower. He let the warm water cascade over him as he lathered his hands and started to wash. As he always did, he started from the top and made his way down his body. By the time his hand reached his cock, he was already rock hard. Bracing himself with his free hand against the tiled wall near his head, he closed his eyes and began to stroke himself, letting out a small moan as he did so. He pictured in his mind the poster in his bedroom full of bikini-clad women, but like it always did, the image changed about halfway through, and he then saw Hermione.

He found himself remembering all the times last summer that they had spent lounging around the neighborhood pool. Her bathing suits were never too revealing, but to him, they were enough because they showed much more than what she usually wore. He thought of her smooth, tan legs and the way that the water had rolled down her skin when she came up from underwater. Just when he imagined her peeling down her bathing suit and asking him to touch her, he came hard, leaning even further into the tile as his body sagged. Once his breathing slowed down, he stood upright and continued to wash, feeling guilty as he always did for wanking to the thought of his best friend. He never purposely started wanking to thoughts of Hermione, but still, it always evolved into that- every single time.

Even from very early on when he had first started wanking, it had always been Hermione that he saw. It used to mortify him, but he was used to it by now, and it didn't surprise him anymore. He realized a long time ago that it was only because she was the girl that he spent most of his time with, and it did make sense in a weird sort of way. He figured it was innocent enough, because even though she was always naked or near naked in his mind, he only ever watched, never touching or doing anything with her. Still, he knew that if she were to ever find out, she would probably murder him for it, and he had no plans to tell her unless he wanted a quick death.

Feeling refreshed in more ways than one, he stepped out of the shower and dried himself off before brushing his teeth and stepping into his pyjamas. When he got to his room, he found he wasn't tired yet, so he wrote a note to send to Hermione.

Miss you already.

He tapped it against her window, but she didn't come. Frustrated, he pulled the rope again. A long minute later, he was about to pull again, but the window opened, and a flustered Hermione was grabbing the piece of paper. Her hair was wet, and she was wearing pyjamas as well.

Ron, we spent all day together, how on earth can you miss me?

I don't know. I just do. What took you so damn long?

I was getting dressed! I swear you are so needy! Do you need me to come tuck you in as well?

Yes, I would like that, actually.

He watched as she rolled her eyes dramatically, but she was laughing.

Well - I'm sorry, but if you need someone to tuck you in, I suggest you ask your mum.

You won't do it? Not even on my birthday?

No. Not even on your birthday.

Fine.

What's the real issue, Ron?

How is it that you know everything? Can we talk about something?

Of course, you know that.

Earlier, at the shops - when you were upset thinking about how our friendship would have to change if either of us got into a relationship...well, now I've been thinking about it, and I don't like the idea at all. I don't know what I would do without you, or what I would do if we were no longer as close as we are right now. I know it sounds like I'd be jealous or something, but it's not that really...it's just...I don't want 'us' to ever change Hermione. You're too special to me.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he sent it to her before he could change his mind. He had never been one to openly discuss how he was feeling, but right now, he needed reassurance from her. He knew he would be naive to assume that they would always be as close as they were right now, as they would grow up eventually.

They would move away from each other one day, and she would probably get married to a brilliant bloke, and then they would be those kinds of friends that got together for coffee only every once in a while. The thought brought unexpected tears to his eyes, and he blinked them back, hoping that she hadn't seen them. He knew that one day, he would have to let her go in one way or another, but he wasn't at all ready to do that anytime soon.

Ron observed Hermione as she read his note, studying her body language. He could tell that she was emotional as well, as her face softened, and he even thought he saw her eyes water.

Oh, Ron. I'm sorry for planting the idea in your head. You were right earlier though, why worry about something that hasn't happened yet? Regardless, I think that as long as we both feel the same way, I doubt that anyone can get between us. We know each other so well, and for so long, I cannot imagine that it would be easy to get between that. But enough of this! It's your birthday, remember? No negative talk!

Thank you for that. You always know how to ease my mind.

Good.

Yeah. I suppose we ought to get to sleep now. See you tomorrow.

Yes. Goodnight.

Sweet dreams.

Ron?

Yes?

You mean so much to me too.

Ron clutched the note as he closed his window, followed by his curtains. He then picked up the remaining pieces of paper on his desk. Walking over to his closet, he pulled down one of the shoeboxes on the top shelf, and shoved the papers inside. He had been saving them for a long while, even though he wasn't quite sure why. He supposed he didn't like the thought of throwing them into the trash, so storing them was a better option. Placing the box back in the closet, he laid down in his bed, and fell fast asleep.